Man of the week

James/Hames/Hamez Rodríguez. Colombia’s icon was kicked around, got at by a grasshopper, patronised by David Luiz, ended up in tears, but still scored his sixth goal in five games and earned the love of Rhianna: “I shed a tear for you, Rodríguez.”

Most let down

Workers in the Portuguese restaurant owned by Rodríguez, who were promised a €5,000 bonus each if Colombia won the tournament. Waiter Arlindo Sá told press before kick-off: “I’ll buy a new car, mine is too old. I really want a new car.”

Stats of the week

54: The number of fouls in the Brazil quarter-final – the most since the 51 in Brazil v Chile. Brazil managed more fouls per minute than they have in any World Cup game since records began.

Turn up of the week

Fifa’s Jérôme Valcke - speaking two years after he forced through new pro-Budweiser laws overriding Brazil’s ban on alcohol in grounds – unhappy with the amount of alcohol in grounds. ‘’I was amazed by the number of people who were drunk and the level of alcohol. It’s a surprise.”

Meanwhile

Keeping an eye on the game’s overall image: Sepp Blatter, discussing Luis Suárez’s record. “Human beings make errors. Players make errors. Coaches make errors. Referees make errors. But [that’s] the human face of football. Let them do this. Let them do this.”

In the spotlight

Ghana’s World Cup meltdown: set to be made into a Hollywood film. Director Darryl Wharton-Rigby’s script will reportedly “follow a courier who’s tasked with bringing $3 million to an African soccer team, which refuses to play until it is paid – in cash. Things go awry when the courier is ambushed…”

Best homecoming

Nigeria’s FA president Aminu Maigari – arrested at the airport after arriving home, pending a government hearing into the FA’s management. Fifa is “greatly concerned”.

Entering into the spirit

Christian Estrosi, deputy mayor of Nice, banning any “ostentacious display” of foreign flags until the World Cup is over after being upset by the joy of local Algerians. Estrosi said the ban would stop “such intolerable behaviour that disrupts public tranquility”.

Mixed signals

1) Fifa celebrating social progress with 57% of World Cup tickets sold to Brazilians; 2) Datafolha polling finding 67% of fans at Brazil v Chile were white, and 90% from Brazil’s top two economic classes.

Best precautions

Bogotá authorities banning the sale of flour, shaving cream and alcohol before the game against Brazil, and banning all riding of motorbikes. Colombia reported 3,200 fights after their win over Uruguay, and 34 injuries.

Best grudges

1) Landon Donovan, left out of the USA squad by Jürgen Klinsmann, giving his verdict on their exit: “I don’t think we were set up to succeed, it was tough to watch … We didn’t give it a real effort, from a tactical standpoint.”

2) Anara Atanes – who reacted in May to boyfriend Samir Nasri being left out of the France squad with tweets including “Deschamps, what a shit manager” – weighing up the France defeat to Germany. “Ooooppsiiiiiie! And thats the reason u need ur world class players!”

Most confused

A Brazilian seven-year-old boy from Maceió, named by his francophile father in tribute to his all-time favourite France international players. Zinedine Yazid Zidane Thierry Henry Barthez Eric Felipe Silva Santos, known as Zidane, told Globo: “I don’t know [the rest of my names] yet. I never learned them.”

Plus: best tribute

Model Andressa Urach – a former Miss Bumbum pageant runner-up – asked to weigh up Brazil’s performances so far. “They lack focus. I can certainly say this: Hulk makes more impact with his butt than with football.”